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The Royal Conservatory of Brussels and the Conservatoire Royale de Bruxelles share a historically valuable architectural ensemble. The monumental conservatory building on Regentschapstraat, along with the director’s and secretary’s residences, forms a significant late 19th-century complex designed by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar. On Wolstraat, five historically valuable houses—some dating back to the 17th century—create a prominent streetscape.
The architectural heritage is being restored and upgraded to modern standards. Due to a growing student population, a new building is being added. This extension will house high-performance masterclass rooms, two new concert halls, and an underground archive. The design ensures a sustainable future for both conservatories.
Daidalos has been involved since the competition phase, allowing acoustic principles to be integrated from the start. The existing concert hall is being fully renovated. Measurements revealed excessive reverberation time, prompting the creation of a calibrated 3D model to test acoustic interventions. These include replacing carpet with wood flooring and installing less absorbent seating. The absorption coefficient of the current seats was tested in Daidalos’ acoustic lab to refine the new seating specifications.
Music classrooms are distributed between the existing buildings (for quieter, individual instruction) and the new building (for louder instruments and ensemble work). Acoustic simulations helped tailor reverberation times and sound quality to the specific instruments used.
New Performance Spaces
Both feature variable acoustics, allowing reverberation times to be adjusted from 0.8/0.9s to 1.4s using movable wooden panels and curtains. This flexibility supports both large ensembles and intimate performances.
The project aims for a BREEAM “Excellent” rating, already achieved in the Design Stage. A bespoke certification scheme was developed to accommodate the complex mix of functions. Sustainability principles were deepened through life cycle cost analyses of measures like secondary glazing, ground-source heat pumps, and robust interior finishes.
Simulations were conducted to assess daylight access, indoor climate, ventilation efficiency, and views to the outside. These informed decisions on natural ventilation, shading, insulation, and glazing.
New buildings exceed current insulation standards, and existing structures are retrofitted with roof, floor, and wall insulation where heritage constraints allow. Climate change scenarios were also simulated.
Low-VOC materials are specified to ensure healthy indoor air, with emissions tested post-construction. Energy performance was calculated using regulatory standards, with Daidalos acting as EPB reporter. Dynamic simulations using EnergyPlus software optimized the geothermal balance for the heat pump system.
Energy efficiency is further enhanced by thermal storage tanks and photovoltaic panels. Consumption will be monitored via a comprehensive metering system for electricity, heating, cooling, and water.
Water use is minimized through efficient fixtures, rainwater reuse, and infiltration strategies, which also support sustainable landscape design.
Material Reuse and Environmental Impact
A demolition and material inventory was created with Rotor to identify reusable materials within the project or elsewhere. Fine dust emissions are reduced through renewable technologies and low-NOX heat generation.
